How and what do we see through our eyes? If you're like me, you look through different lenses depending on the subject, whether or not you plan to photograph it, what emotional associations it sets up in you, the ambient lighting, whether you're alone or with others, if you're feeling rushed or at ease. Yet our eyes can be open and our minds closed. If that's the case it doesn't matter how hard we look, we will never see the nuanced meanings behind what is sitting right in front of us. But if we are open to life in all its facets, we will see INTO things in ways that others might not.

In this portrait, Leslie is seeing the world through seven different lenses. She chose each of the lenses herself, so together they reflect how she was seeing on this one particular day. I wish I'd thought to ask her why she'd chosen each one. I know she was looking for variety in color and design since she knew I wanted to photograph her with ALL of them on her face at one time. She knew the challenge to which I was responding and thought it was great fun to be part of it. But why seven? Why not six or eight?

According to a Numerology web site, the number seven connotes: "philosopher, sage, wisdom seeker, reserved, inventor, stoic, contemplative, aloof, deep-thinker, introspective, spiritual, faith, esoteric, exotic, unusual, hidden, seeking perfection, ethereal, other worldly, enigma." I don't know Leslie well but I intuit that she is all of these things and more.

I doubt if our TITC moderators Lee and Bev imagined that those who responded to their challenge for this week would delve quite so deeply into its mysteries, but that's the nature of inspiration. You send something out into the Universe never knowing what it will trigger in others. To see what this Thursday's challenge triggered in lots of other PBasers, CLICK HERE.

Unless I'm having a Senior Moment--which is always possible at my advanced age--I don't recall having seen Matylda's photo before I clicked on her link today. Apparently she'd created it for the Thursday challenge called "Seven" in April 2007. However I didn't keep up with the TITC postings until I got involved here myself in December. But be sure to check out her image--it is WAY cool!!! The URL ishttp://www.pbase.com/tygrys50/image/77406654

Your talk of eyes and glasses made me think....as you always do...about what the two mean to me. So I did a self portrait today to reflect it. Thanks for the inspiration. Check out the picture for a laugh...you know the secret word.
Vera